Favorite Fall 2024 Essay Prompts and Current Status of 2024 Released Essays
Favorites Fall 2024 so far:
Boston College:
“At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.”
Sarah Lawrence College:
“In a 2023 majority decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “Nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life, so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can contribute to the university.” Drawing upon examples from your life, a quality of your character, and/or a unique ability you possess, describe how you believe your goals for a college education might be impacted, influenced, or affected by the Court’s decision.”
Stanford:
“Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.”
University of Georgia:
“The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).”
University of Miami:
“Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute.”
Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive University community.”
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: 
“Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. This could be your current community or another community you have engaged.”
Wake Forest University:
“Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (limit 300 words)”
Yale:
“Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?”
We track all essay prompts!
Other releases:
New essays: Boston College (though, one repeated essay for specific program), Providence College, University of Chicago, University of Miami, University of Richmond, Yeshiva University.
Some same/some different: Arizona State Barrett Honors College; two same; Dartmouth: several new, several tweaks, several the same; one new; Sarah Lawrence: one new; Schreyer Honors College (Penn State): two new and two repeats; Tufts, two new, others the same. University of Texas, Austin: new optional circumstance prompt. University of Vermont, one same, four new; Villanova University: one new; others the same; Yale: two new short essay prompts and two new long essay options.
Same essays: Purdue University, University of California, University of Miami
Updated essay: Fordham